A system and method for radar detection and calibration. By measuring the true
range of a calibration target on entry to the radar's detection zone, the actual
detection capability of the radar in current atmospheric conditions with the actual
radar can be determined. The radar system is also adapted to determine a sensed
position at a sensed time of a target in the radar's detection zone. A calibration
target, preferably an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), includes a position device for
determining the actual position of the calibration target. A calibration device
communicates with the radar system and the calibration target and receives the
sensed and actual positions of the calibration target. The calibration device calculates
the error between the sensed position and the actual position and adjusts the radar
system to minimize the error. The target may include a signal augmentation device
to augment the radar cross-section of the target to replicate the radar cross-sections
of targets of various types. In this manner the true detection range of the radar
system can be determined for various types of targets under existing atmospheric conditions.
